Believe it or not, sometimes it is right to run in the wrong direction. If you watched the video of the Boston Marathon bombing you noticed that the first responders ran in, what some would say, the wrong direction–toward the blast site! That’s just the opposite of our natural instinct. Normally we run away from danger, not toward it. But these brave men and women did just the opposite.
There is a good lesson in this sad story. To do our duty as Christians we must sometimes run headlong into danger. Paul gave us a good example of this when he journeyed to Jerusalem, knowing that bonds and afflictions awaited him (Acts 20:17-24). He considered his labor to be of greater importance than his life. He was willing to suffer for the sake of service. He subjected himself to pain that he might fulfill God’s plan. He was willing to die that others might live! So– how serious are you about serving God?
Dear friend, we live in difficult and dangerous days, yet we are not dismissed from duty. Jesus never said following Him would be easy. To the contrary, He warned that it would be difficult and dangerous. He bluntly stated that to follow Him we must forsake all. Instead of “solving all your problems”, as some teach, Christian service can be very painful. Should we shrink back from it?
As we think about the great needs of sinners without Christ we need the compassion and courage of those “first responders” who risk their very lives to help those in need. It might be contrary to your nature, but it is the right thing to do. This is one time when going in the “wrong direction” is the right direction. Don’t ever forget–God.s will is always right, best, and safest. You are never safer than when you are doing as He directs. Those who do otherwise are in dangerous territory. How safe are you?
